Alkali caffeine methylene disalicylate.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL LEWIS SUMMERS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ALKALl CAFFEINE METHYLENE DISALICYLATE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 721,923, dated March 3,1903.

Application filed July 26,1902. Serial No. 117,215. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL LEWIs SUM- MERS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the city of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful Oafleine Methylene Disalicylates ofthe Alkalies, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

My invention relates to the production of a new chemical compoundresulting from the combination of the alkaloid caffeine with any one ofthe four alkali salts of methylene disalicylic acid, and it finds itschief utility as a pharmaceutical product for its therapeutic value andis especially adapted to subcutaneous use by reason of its rapid andcomplete solubility in a small amount of water.

In Letters Patent dated August 5, 1902, No. 706,354, issued to me, Idescribed the methylene disalicylic acid discovered by me, and in anapplication filed June 14, 1902, Serial No. 111,731, I described mydiscovery of the alkali salts of that acid.

My present invention consists in combining the alkaloid caffeine withany one of the aforesaid alkali salts of methylene disalicylic acid inthe class of alkali salts thereof de scribed in said pendingapplication,Serial No. 111,731, and the result is not a mere admixture,as might at first be supposed when theoretically considered, but is atrue chemical combination, easily proven to be such by the fact that thecaffeine present in my newcompound invented dissolves in a very muchsmaller quantity of water than would otherwise be required to dissolveisolated caffeine crystals.

In carrying out my process practically I take three hundred and two(302) parts, by weight,of the aforesaid lithium salt of methylenedisalicylic acid dissolved in about one thousand (1,000) parts, byweight, of Water, heat it to boiling, and add 401.2 parts, by weight, ofpure crystalline caffeine. The latter dissolves readily and combineswith the lithium methylene disalicylate and on evaporation to drynessseparates out in whitish crusts of microscopic crystalline form.

The new compound is peculiar in being an addition product of thealkaloid caffeine and the aforesaid salt used to form the compound.Besides being very quickly and completely soluble in water, (even in thecold,) it is moderately soluble in alcohol, but insoluble in ether andbenzene. It is more or less deliquescent- It has the formula G H O-(2R)C H N O in which 2R represents two molecules of a monovalent alkalisalt of the class referred to, which includes, besides the lithium salt,the sodium salt, (of which, if substituted, three hundred and thirty-twoparts, by weight, should be used,) the potassium salt, (of which threehundred and sixty-four parts, by Weight, should be used,) and theammonium salt, (of which three hundred and twenty-two parts, by weight,should be used.)

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- The crystalline product described, whichis derived from heating an aqueous solution of an alkali salt ofmethylene disalicylic acid with the alkaloid caffeine, and evaporatingit to dryness, said product forming in crusts of minute crystallinestructure, substantially white in color, somewhat deliquescent, quicklyand completely soluble in water, even in the cold, moderately so inalcohol, insoluble in ether and benzene, and having the formula C H O(2R)G H N O In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signaturethis 24th day of July, A. D. 1902.

SAMUEL LEWIS SUMMERS.

Witnesses:

CHARLES H. THOMPSON, GEo. W. REED.

